Daniel was reading over some books and records written about time. Jeremiah had been writing words that addressed some specific times of things which were to come to pass. The people had been sinning—a lot—Jeremiah’s writings was talking about devastating (desolations) circumstances would be accomplished on Jerusalem in 70 years. Daniel was a praying prophet.
These devastating circumstances were to take place from 479 to 409 B.C. By reading the books, Daniel understood being the number of the years that Jehovah “would accomplish in the desolations of Jerusalem.” (Daniel 9:2)
Daniel further understood, based on the tenure of Cyrus, there were yet 17 more years to be accomplished before the desolations were ended. Daniel’s response to this prophetic reading was to go seriously into prayer to Jehovah. This famous prophecy of seventy sevens of years is 490 years. That’s seven weeks of years=490 years.
Today we understand this better in our own reading even to this day. Daniel 9:20-27 gives us one of the greatest prayers in the Bible (at least in my mind). Daniel was stirred to pray for his people most compassionately.
What did he do and how? He humbled himself and made confession to the Lord realizing his own frailness before the great and dreadful God. He acknowledged that God is not like a man who would make a covenant and then break the covenant.
Daniel made supplications before God. He prayed for God to have mercy on his people. He prayed for those who kept the Lord’s commandments. What did Daniel say to God? Not only was he confessing his own sins, but the sins of his people as well…confessing they had all sinned.
They had all done wickedly. They had all rebelled. They had put aside His precepts and forgot about how dreadful His judgments could be. Even though the fathers, the prophets had given them what to do, but they didn’t respect the words of the prophets.
He praises God for His righteousness and even though mercies and forgiveness belong to God and their rebelliousness prevented them from walking in the way of God, nevertheless, Daniel continues to be godlike and prays for a people in rebellion. He said all Israel has transgressed and departed from Your law and not listening to Your voice.
And therefore, their disobedience had brought the consequences of transgression upon them. Going aside in Moses law, they had departed. Bad things had come upon them. The Lord saw it. But, Lord turn away your anger and fury from us which we have committed.
Hear my prayer (your servant) because you are the merciful, compassionate judge. Let your face shine upon your desolate sanctuary and your people. O Lord hear; O Lord forgive; O Lord do not delay for your own name that Our God will not be ridiculed among our enemies and You always praised and worshipped.
Daniel’s subject of His prayer was about a timeline over 490 years. Daniel says the prophecy concerns his people Israel. What is the prophecy about? One of the things the prophecy is about restoration of the Holy City, the cleansing of the temple, the coming Messiah and the destruction and restoration of the Holy City.
In Daniel 9:20-27, Daniel’s prayer is answered. The angel Gabriel comes to Daniel to give this prophecy. He comforts him, “coming in haste in answer to his prayer while the words are yet on his tongue, Gabriel comes to him.” He had seen the man Gabriel in another vision earlier.
Gabriel came swiftly. He knew how intense Daniel was concerning his people and how intense God was toward his people. Gabriel talked with him. He told Daniel how dearly beloved he was. He told him he had come to open his understanding about his deep concern for his people. Gabriel comes directly from the heavenly realm to comfort him.
This is a model to guide on how to pray and what we can expect and to put in how minds that God is watching over us, in our time of need. We also see the plan of God showing us about the coming of Messiah and His second coming to all those who trust and believe and pray and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We need the Lord at all times.
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Errors? Or Questions? Please let me know. Join Sundays for music and message at 11:30 a.m. by calling (712) 775-8971, code 266751. Don’t stop praying and hoping. References: The Holy Bible, StudyLight.org, New American Standard, Daniel 9-12. “Today is another great day to do good and be successful.”
